Primary Industries (Customs) Charges (Designated Body) Declaration 2003

Overview

The Primary Industries (Customs) Charges (Designated Body) Declaration 2003 was enacted under the authority of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Warren Truss, and came into effect on 1 October 2003. This legislative instrument was introduced to address a gap in the management and administration of customs charges related to primary industries, specifically wheat. The enacting body, the Commonwealth Parliament, aimed to streamline the process by designating a specific body to handle these charges effectively. The policy objective behind this declaration was to ensure that a designated body, in this case, the Grains Council of Australia, would be responsible for the collection and administration of customs charges pertaining to wheat, thereby providing a more efficient and coordinated approach to managing these financial obligations.

Scope and Application

The Primary Industries (Customs) Charges (Designated Body) Declaration 2003 applies to the Grains Council of Australia, which is designated as a body in relation to wheat under the Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Act 1999. This Act extends its application across the Commonwealth of Australia and pertains specifically to the industry and conduct related to the customs charges for wheat. The declaration, which commenced on 1 October 2003, establishes the Grains Council of Australia as the designated body for managing and administering charges related to wheat within the scope of the Act. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this legislation is national, ensuring consistent application and regulation of customs charges across all states and territories in Australia. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within the text of the declaration itself, though the application and interpretation of the charges may be further detailed in subordinate instruments or regulations linked to the Act.

Key Provisions

The Primary Industries (Customs) Charges (Designated Body) Declaration 2003 (sections 1-3) designates the Grains Council of Australia as a designated body in relation to wheat. This declaration, made under clause 12 of Schedule 14 to the Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Act 1999, specifies that the Grains Council of Australia is now recognised as a designated body, thereby conferring upon it certain responsibilities and authorities in relation to wheat under the Act. The declaration came into effect on 1 October 2003, as outlined in section 2. The designation of the Grains Council of Australia as a designated body imposes several obligations on the entity. In particular, it is likely to involve responsibilities related to the collection and administration of charges for wheat under the Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Act 1999. These obligations may include ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Act, maintaining accurate records, and reporting to relevant authorities as required. The precise nature of these obligations would be further defined in the Act itself and any associated regulations or guidelines. The Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Act 1999 may impose offences and penalties for breaches of its provisions. While the specific details of these penalties are not outlined in the declaration itself, they would typically be found in the main body of the Act or in associated regulations. Breaches could lead to civil or criminal consequences, depending on the nature and severity of the offence. For example, penalties could include fines, imprisonment, or other administrative sanctions as stipulated by the relevant legislation. The exact maximum penalties would be determined by the specific provisions of the Act and any applicable regulations or subsidiary legislation.